Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing flare, which resulted in abnormal runway contact, a nose wheel landing gear collapse, and runway excursion.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that during the landing flare she inadvertently allowed the nose of the airplane to drop and the nose wheel touched down first. Subsequently, the nose wheel collapsed and the airplane veered off the runway to left, stopping about 75 feet into the grass parallel the runway. During the runway excursion, the propeller dug into the terrain and the left wing impacted the ground. The left wing was substantially damaged. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during the landing flare she inadvertently allowed the nose of the airplane to drop and the nose wheel touched down first. Subsequently, the nose wheel collapsed and the airplane veered off the runway to left, stopping about 75 feet into the grass parallel the runway. During the runway excursion, the propeller dug into the terrain and the left wing impacted the ground. The left wing was substantially damaged. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.